Author's note: hello, readers! Here's the long-awaited chapter where we finally learn Liz's plan for freeing the turtles…will it work out? Well, you'll just have to read on to find out.

"Wow! This place is cool!" Mikey exclaimed as he looked around Static. It was Sunday, and just as she had promised, she was showing them the place.

Leo and Donny were entranced with the tables while Raph was in awe over the size of the dance floor.

Liz herself was behind the bar, smiling at their enthusiasm. Raph caught her eye and smiled at her, making her heart pick up speed.

Still grinning, he walked towards her. Once he reached Liz, he leaned over the bar so he could kiss her.

Whistles and cheers could be heard from his brothers. Raph grumbled. Those guys sure weren't going to give up on razzing him for having finally found a woman.

Liz laughed gently at their actions while Raph just grumbled and rolled his eyes.

Their merriment grew when Liz got the sound system going. The music's beat got all of their two-toed feet going.

It was nice, Liz thought, to see them this way. Happy…and completely unaware of the fact that after this day, their world would be turned upside down by her plan…

It was simple, really. The original plan would go as scheduled…only the turtles wouldn't be in the dark. Liz was going to tell them everything, including her role in the whole mess. That way, they could avoid capture and have a chance at being safe…

However…she would not…they would hunt her…they would search for her until they found her…

Liz shuddered, knowing all too well what could happen if they did…

But, that wasn't happening until later. Liz pushed those thoughts from her mind. She would enjoy this moment as it was.

Still, even though she came back around the bar and joined in their dancing, her heart still ached.

A slow song came on as soon as she came onto the dance floor. The boys cheered and shouted their encouragement.

"Dance with her, Raph! All nice and close…" Mikey called out, chuckling merrily.

"Shut your beak, Mikey!" Raph growled back.

Liz turned the angry turtle's head towards her. "Hey…no need for anger, big guy…"

Raphael gave her a look that said he hardly believed her.

Liz knew just what to do. She took Raph's arms and put them around her waist, drawing him closer to her until her chest touched his plastron.

"Let's make him jealous…after all Christine has to work at the gallery all day…"

Raph caught on to her meaning and grinned. Slowly, he put her arms around his neck. Then, without a word, the two started swaying back and forth to the song.

Surprisingly, Raph was actually a decent dancer and moved rather smoothly around the dance floor. Where he learned it, she didn't know but that didn't matter…all that mattered was that he was holding her.

And with that, Liz fell in love with the big galoot all over again…

Leo, Donnie, and Mikey looked on in amazement at the change in demeanour in their usually aggressive, bull-headed brother. He now looked almost…serene. As if nothing in the world was giving him grief and all he felt was…happiness.

And when they saw Raphael look into her eyes, they all knew…Their brother was in all the way…

"Now you know how I feel." Mikey muttered, grinning.

Holy crap, I'm in love… Raph thought while he looked down at the woman in his arms. And more amazing yet, he didn't feel fear…he only felt joy. As if in silent thank you, the red-bandana wearing turtle bent down and kissed her.

Liz felt all her thoughts flee her mind as she stood on her tip-toes, deepening the kiss as much as she could.

The moment was jarred when the first bars of a hip-hop song came through the speakers.

"Never knew you were a good dancer, Raphael…"

Raph had the good grace to blush slightly. "Well, I…uh…well…I…you'll think it's dumb…"

Liz shook her head. "No, I won't…please, tell me."

Raph sighed, not able to believe what he was about to divulge to her.

"I…uh…let…uh…Christine teach me over one summer…I…uh…wanted to learn…" The red-banded turtle said this low enough so that only Liz would hear. He'd be damned if any of this brothers heard. There was no way he would endure their teasing over that one.

He felt better, however, when he saw the look of obvious approval come across her face.

"That's awesome, Raphael…not many guys, turtle or otherwise I would imagine, would actually put aside their 'manly' pride to learn how to dance."

He blushed again, only this time he was smiling. "Just don't tell my bros, eh? The last thing I need is razzin' from them."

Liz gently kissed the turtle she loved and admired. "My lips are sealed."

The rest of the afternoon involved much dancing, laughing, and in general merriment especially from watching Mikey spin around the dance floor on his shell.

This truly was a special evening and Liz would hold it in her heart forever…

As they made their way back to the lair that evening, Liz's cellular phone rang. When she heard it, the good feelings she had crashed and burned…for she knew who was phoning and why…

"Hello, Gonzo." She said, when she answered.

Mikey, Donnie, Leo, and Raph all exchanged puzzled looks as she addressed the person on the other line.

Liz hadn't wanted to reveal the truth this way, but it appeared that her boss had unwittingly made it so she had to.

Biting her lip, Liz put her cell on speakerphone. No more secrecy now…

"Liz, they're pushing hard on this deal…they want them earlier…"

"Earlier?" Liz felt her heart fall to the ground.

"Yes, earlier…as in within…" there was a brief paused followed by a long sigh, "they want them first thing tomorrow morning..."

"What? Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not…tomorrow…or they kill him…"

Fear gripped Liz as she thought of her poor uncle… "Why are they suddenly pushing so hard?" She asked, trying to keep herself together.

"Apparently their rivals got wind of the turtle's existence and now they want them too. Therefore, these guys want them first…and fast…"

"Oh, shit…" Liz whispered.

"Yeah…Damon and Hellcat will be in position when you take them up…"

Liz hung up her cell and let out a shaky breath. Things were spinning out of control… Liz had hoped for more time to explain everything…more time to…let go…

"What was that all about?" Leonardo demanded.

Liz felt tears prick her eyes. I'm…I'm….there's more to me than…what you know…"

Letting the tears fall down her cheeks, she turned to face the quartet.

Goodbye, Raphael… She thought her heart breaking.

"I-I'm actually Raven…a professional hacker…I help the police, FBI, CIA or what have you by assisting them with missions to help take down some of the worst criminals world has to offer…T-the one my boss, Gonzo was talking about…involves you guys…"

"W-what do you mean?" asked a very scared Michelangelo.

"I mean…my uncle was taken hostage by what most consider the most powerful terrorists that exist today because of a falsehood…they thought he was harming this man…when in realty he was helping him…they did eventually realize the truth, but they want a ransom for him…two million dollars plus you guys…I was to infiltrate your lair, learn about you…and when the time came, lure you out to the surface where you'd be taken to them...just a few days from now…"

All of them remained silent for a long moment. It was Raphael who broke the silence.

"Is this true?"

"Yes, it is…" Liz felt her heart break knowing what answering the question was going to cost her…

"I-I had no choice…they'll kill him…" Liz whispered.

Raphael walked towards Liz; the look of raw anger on his face chilled her to the bone with fear.

"I don't fucking care…you used us…you made us trust you…you made me care about you…"

Raphael felt like he was caught in some sort of sick and twisted nightmare. The first woman who accepted him for who and what he was and who finally made him feel peace had just betrayed him and his family.

"I told you this to save you…I couldn't let them do what I know they can do to you…"

"You were gonna hand us over to terrorists!" Raph bellowed, drawing his weapon.

"At first…" Liz admitted, tears running freely down her face now, "but…then I got to know you…I saw that you weren't just the mindless animals they told me you were…I saw that you were just the same as any human being on the inside…then, I…I…"

"And then you what, Raven?" Raph asked, his tone saying he didn't really care what she said, but figured he'd let her ramble anyway.

Liz looked the red-banded turtle in the eyes despite her fear. "Then I fell in love with you."

All any of them heard from Raph was a feral growl right before he threw his sai, causing it to land barely an inch from her head.

"You come near us again," Raph said, getting right in her face, "and I won't miss…"

He pulled his sai out of the wall and stormed off.

"And if he doesn't kill you, one of us will…" It was Leonardo who said this, his katana drawn and resting along the side her neck.

Liz had no doubt in her mind that he was telling the truth. The deadly look in his eyes told her that.

Leo slowly removed it and walked away, followed by Donny and Mikey, who both gave her dirty looks.

Liz waited until they had disappeared before she let herself truly let her grief free.

I'm so sorry, Raphael…

Back in the lair, Raph stormed around trashing everything in sight and letting out loud yells of anger and sorrow.

The only woman he had ever loved had betrayed him…

Angry and hot tears poured down the ninja's face as he rampaged on. When there was nothing else to knock over and or break, he sank to his knees and choked out sobs.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, but shrugged it off. There was nobody that could comfort him.

Grumbling, the heart broken turtle made his way to his room and slammed the door. The sound echoed through the lair as if punctuating his pain.

"What should we do?" asked a concerned Mikey, who'd been the one to offer kindness to Raph.

"Let him be for now, my son." Splinter said. "Leonardo informed me of what was happening. Only time will heal his wounds, Michelangelo…"

Time had no meaning to Liz now as she wondered through the sewers, making her way to a ladder that would take her back to the surface. She'd lost all she cared about now. Liz, or rather Raven was alone.

It was better this way…

If she hadn't told them the truth, they would be on their way to god knows where to be…well, she didn't want to think too much about that…

A ladder soon came into view and Liz climbed out and then shivered, feeling the cold breeze of the night air.

Funny, that's how she felt inside without Raph…cold.

The tears flowed again and Liz didn't care if anyone saw her sorrow. Nothing mattered anymore…

"Liz, are you okay?" Startled, she looked up to see Christine looking at her, concern in her eyes.

Liz didn't answer, she simply walked past her, desperate to…what, she didn't know…she only knew that if she didn't keep moving, she would collapse and just give up.

Christine gently grabbed Liz's elbow and turned her around. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing…" she whispered.

Christine didn't believe Liz for a second. "Come on…tell me…" Gently, Christine drew Liz into a hug, as she hated to see anyone in any kind of pain.

Liz felt guilt eat at her. Christine didn't know what had happened only moments ago…she didn't know the truth of the matter.

Without a word, Liz drew back and then handed Christine a small card.

"What's this?"

Christine looked down at it and saw a six digit number written on it along with a web address.

"That's the truth." Liz answered and walked away.

Christine grabbed her again, not satisfied with the cryptic messages she was getting.

"Please…tell me what's going on."

Sighing, Liz slowly told Christine the same story she'd told the turtles back in the sewers.

"…and now, instead of getting them…they're going to try and get me…and that's how I want it. I'd rather have them after me than the guys."

Christine stood stunned at the news that this woman had just given her. "You're going to let yourself be hunted by them?"

"Yes, that's the plan." Liz shuddered inwardly at that despite herself.

"You can't do this! Raph…"

"…is angry with me as he should be."

Christine folded her arms. "Raph cares about you. Even though he is angry as you say, he wouldn't want you to do this."

Liz whirled around, angry now. "Why the hell do you care? In case you forgot, your boyfriend was a part of this. I was willing to give him to them, too."

"And now you're risking your life to save him and his family. I'd have to say that warrants a little something I like to call forgiveness."

Liz stood awestruck at the woman before her. She'd expected scathing words, an order to never return…but not this…not…understanding.

"I don't deserve this…you-you have no idea what they can do…"

Christine hugged her again. "Yes you do and nothing will convince me otherwise."

The way she said it told Liz that Christine wasn't kidding. The woman had meant what she'd said. And with that, Liz cried for a very different reason…she cried out of gratitude instead of grief.